GRE Math SUBJECT test for Oct. 6, 07 (or other months)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around participants sharing their experiences and scores from the GRE Math Subject Test, specifically for the October 6, 2007 exam, as well as other months. Participants seek advice on how to interpret their scores, strategies for taking the test, and the scoring system used.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Participants inquire about the scoring system, specifically whether the test is out of 890 or 990, and what raw scores correspond to certain percentile ranks.
  • Some participants mention that the GRE provides a scaling packet upon registration, with one noting that a 90th percentile score might be a raw score of 56 with 10 questions skipped.
  • There is a suggestion that the scaling in the sample GRE may not reflect the actual test taken, with a comparison made to the physics GRE.
  • One participant shares their experience of encountering a topic they were unfamiliar with, specifically complex variables, and discusses strategies for answering questions under time constraints.
  • Another participant asks for advice on whether to skip questions they cannot solve or to guess, weighing the potential penalties for wrong answers against the benefits of correct guesses.
  • Concerns are raised about the effectiveness of guessing, with one participant advising against blind guessing unless some answers can be eliminated.
  • A participant shares their score of 770 (83%) and discusses their background in mathematics, suggesting that their limited knowledge in abstract algebra may have impacted their performance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on test-taking strategies, particularly regarding guessing versus skipping questions. There is no consensus on the best approach, and various strategies are proposed and debated.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the scoring system and the implications of guessing on their scores. There are references to personal experiences and varying levels of familiarity with the test material, which may influence their perspectives.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals preparing for the GRE Math Subject Test, those interested in test-taking strategies, and students seeking insights into scoring and performance expectations may find this discussion beneficial.

pelunia
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hi everyone. i wanted to know what people scored for this month's test (or any other month if you feel like) and how they got the score (approximately how many questions answered correctly, incorrectly, skipped) so i have an idea of how well i need to do to do in the future in order to meet my goal. feel free to send me a private message with the data if you're not comfortable posting it publicly. i would really, really appreciate if people can help me out on this so i get a good idea of how well i need to do.
by the way, is the test out of 890 or 990? i know it varies, but in general, what range of raw scores do i need to fall in in order to get something like 900 (if out of 990 scale) or 840 (if out of 890 scale). thanks for your help.
 
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pelunia said:
hi everyone. i wanted to know what people scored for this month's test (or any other month if you feel like) and how they got the score (approximately how many questions answered correctly, incorrectly, skipped) so i have an idea of how well i need to do to do in the future in order to meet my goal. feel free to send me a private message with the data if you're not comfortable posting it publicly. i would really, really appreciate if people can help me out on this so i get a good idea of how well i need to do.
by the way, is the test out of 890 or 990? i know it varies, but in general, what range of raw scores do i need to fall in in order to get something like 900 (if out of 990 scale) or 840 (if out of 890 scale). thanks for your help.

We're still waiting two more weeks for the Oct. 6 test scores. I can't stand this waiting game anymore! I would pay a hundred bucks to know my score right now. I'll let you know when I find out.

Edit: Oops, I thought you meant the PHYSICS subject test, not math.
 
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pelunia said:
hi everyone. i wanted to know what people scored for this month's test (or any other month if you feel like) and how they got the score (approximately how many questions answered correctly, incorrectly, skipped) so i have an idea of how well i need to do to do in the future in order to meet my goal. feel free to send me a private message with the data if you're not comfortable posting it publicly. i would really, really appreciate if people can help me out on this so i get a good idea of how well i need to do.
by the way, is the test out of 890 or 990? i know it varies, but in general, what range of raw scores do i need to fall in in order to get something like 900 (if out of 990 scale) or 840 (if out of 890 scale). thanks for your help.

the GRE gives you the scaling in the packet they give you when you sign up for the exam. I believe a 90ths percentile score is a raw score of 56 (10 skipped).
 
JasonJo said:
the GRE gives you the scaling in the packet they give you when you sign up for the exam. I believe a 90ths percentile score is a raw score of 56 (10 skipped).

If it is anything like the physics GRE, the scale in the sample GRE that they send you is not necessarily the same as the one you take. Of course, it could be nothing like the physics GRE.
 
did anyone call ETS to get their scores early?
 
waiting for mine
 
Oh, one thing I will tell you is that there where one thing on the test I definitely didn't know but could have learned the day before and answered the questions. I have never taken complex variables: I didn't know how to integrate in the complex domain.

You should try and answer as many question as possible meaning if you can just elminate one of the answers you try and make an educated guess--often you can elimanate much more than that. The other thing is you will probably run out of time so don't get stuck on a problem for more than 4-5 minutes and only work on a problem for 4-5 minutes if you think you can get the solution but need the time.
 
thanks eastside. does anyone else also have any advice/suggestions/tips/strategies to taking the test/approaching certain types of problems? if you have no idea how to solve a problem, is it better to just skip it or just answer it (ie. should i leave nothing blank? if my guess is wrong, the penalty will hurt my score only a little bit, but if i get it right, the benefit is better?) thanks!
 
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Every question has a choice between 5 answers. If absolutely do not know the material, then blindly guessing is very unlikely to increase your score and will probably decrease it. So no don't answer every question. If you can eliminate one of the choices then because you get 1/4 off for each wrong solution, you probably will not increase or decrease your score by guessing...it may still be worth while to guess if you have a feel for what the answer should be (i.e. you are familiar with the material if only marginally). Now if you can eliminate two or three answers then the possibility of increasing your score goes up.

Just don't blindly guess. For instance, I didn't answer any of the question on integration in the complex domain. I have maybe computed two integrals in my life of that sort, and I just really don't know how to do it. So, I didn't answer any of the questions. But, in contrast, there was a Langrange multiplier problem that I didn't have time to do. I definitely knew that three of the answers where incorrect but it was questionable about the other two. I guessed.
 
  • #10
Well, I had 770 (83%). I am a graduate in Mathematical Engineering, from Italy, with Honors and a 4.00 (converted) GPA in mathematics (3.97 overall). I am well prepared on calculus and diff.equations, but I know only basic abstract algebra (the things from algebra one needs in other branches of mathematics, groups, fields...).

This might explain the not great score.
 

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